A 30-day Covid-19 vaccination campaign targeting 3,700 people was launched on Monday in Rumbek State Hospital, Lakes State.

The state health minister, Dr. Jacob Akuocpiir Acuoth, encouraged the public to turn up and receive the vaccine saying it is the only way to get protected from the virus.

“For the general public, I want to tell them that today as a leader and by example, I took my first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine. I urge the public who are listening from 18 years and above to come and take their vaccine because this vaccine is the only way we can protect ourselves and others,” Dr. Akuocpiir said.

He said people turned up in large numbers during the launch to only observe, “Myself and acting governor of Lakes State, Poth Madit, took the AstraZeneca vaccine along with four other ministers and two state advisors. The health workers were in the line as you have seen. Most of the health workers who are working in Rumbek Hospital have been in the line and some of them did receive (the vaccine) and others will come tomorrow to get their AstraZeneca Jab.

Dr. Akuocpiir said Cueibet County Hospital will start the Covid-19 vaccination on Tuesday and Yirol county hospital will start on Wednesday, 16 June. He urged all the citizens in the remote villages, especially the elderly to come out and take the vaccination which is free of charge.

The medical director of Rumbek State Hospital, Dr. Terran Madit, said that the launch of the vaccination campaign was well attended.

“When we started the launch, a good number received the Coronavirus vaccine. Some people who received their first dose in Juba have now received their second AstraZeneca dose,” Dr. MAdit said. “Many people came from outside. Hopefully, if it is like this every day, we will manage to finish this quantity of doses we have soon.”

Dr. Madit said the Coronavirus vaccination campaign will last for one month in Rumbek, Cueibet, and Yirol hospitals.

“I am urging the general public to come out and receive the AstraZeneca vaccines. Let us forget the rumors moving around on social media. This vaccine is the only hope since we don’t have any other vaccine and it is recommended and approved worldwide by many countries,” Dr. Madit said.